Aims: Severe exercises lead to higher blood homocysteine levels, as well as heat shock protein 72 (HSP72). The aim of the study was to compare homocysteine and HSP72 responses following moderate-intensity continuous and high-intensity interval exercises in the sedentary women.

Materials & Methods: In the semi-experimental study, 20 sedentary and healthy young female students were studied in Islamic Azad University, Sari Branch, in 2014. The subjects, selected via purposeful and available sampling method, were randomly divided into two groups including continuous exercise and high-intensity interval exercise (n=10 persons per group). 40-minute running on the treadmill with 60-65% of maximum consumed oxygen was conducted in continuous group. In addition, 36-minute running on the treadmill was conducted in interval group through alternate sets including 1 minute with 90-95% of maximum consumed oxygen and 3 minutes with 50% of maximum consumed oxygen. Blood sampling was done following 12-hour night fasting at 3 stages including before, immediately after, and 60 minutes after the exercises. Data was analyzed by SPSS 20 software using repeated ANOVA, LSD post-hoc, and independent T tests.

Findings: Both severe exercises significantly increased homocysteine and HP72 levels (p<0.05), decreasing after 1-hour recovery compared to the interval immediately after the exercise. Nevertheless, HSP72 levels remained significantly higher than the basic levels (p<0.05). 

Conclusion: Both moderate-intensity continuous and high-intensity interval exercises similarly change homocysteine and HSP72 levels in the sedentary women.